Apostolic Church History, Volume 1

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

My new book, Apostolic Church History, is now available on Amazon! I posted the picture of the book here, but apparently, Blogger/Google decided that I couldn't use it, and took it off this blog. Follow the link below to be directed to the book.  I understand that history is no longer in vogue, but it's necessary. It's necessary to understand our history, whether its our personnel history, national or religious history. We need to know where we came from, because that tells us where we are going.

Below is the link to my new book, Apostolic Church History, Volume 1. It is a history of the Apostolic faith from the year c.33-1500 AD. "Apostolic" is term used to describe the doctrine that the original  twelve apostles taught in the 1st century. Volume 2 will be ready at about the end of the year.


William James Roop, M.A.B.S.

Apostolic Church History

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Time Gap Principle

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Time -Gap Principle

             This is where in certain verses or between verses in Scripture there is a gap in time from a few days or even up to thousands of years.  If we have a long gap in time in Scripture it is important to understand that this is happening.  Sometimes this time gap is mentioned, but sometimes it is not mentioned.

            This principle is not to be underestimated by the Bible student, it is one demonstrated by Jesus Christ Himself in the use of Isaiah 61:1-2 in Luke 4:17-21.

             Nehemiah 2:8-9: “And a letter…And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.  Then I came to the governors beyond the river….”

             Isaiah 9:6-7: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder…. “The first part of verse six in about the incarnation of Jesus Christ.  Then time jumps more than two-thousand years to when Jesus Christ will actually rule the earth for a thousand years on the Throne of David in the New Jerusalem.  At that time the government will be upon His shoulders.

             Isaiah 61:1-2: “To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God…. “Verse one and the first half of verse two, is about Jesus Christ and his ministry here on earth.  Whereas, the last part of verse two jumps ahead more than two-thousand years when Jesus shall return a second time to judge and reap vengeance on the world as He takes His saints away.  So, this comma separates a gap of more than two-thousand years.  We know this because Jesus Christ Himself proclaimed this in the beginning of His ministry as recorded by Luke in his Gospel (Luke 4:16-21).  Jesus reads this verse and a half then closes the book.  The rest of chapter sixty-one of Isaiah will be fulfilled later.

            Daniel 9:24-27: “…And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week…. “These were not weeks of days, but of weeks of years.  Of the seventy weeks of years (490 years), sixty-nine were from the seventh year of the Persian king Artaxerxes the first in 457 B.C. to the crucifixion.  The last week (7 years) has to do with the restoration of Israel.  Two-thousand years later this still has not happened.  So, in verse twenty-six just after the Messiah is “cut off” we have a gap of about two-thousand years.  We can read about this further in book of Revelation chapters ten and eleven.

            Hosea 1:4. God: commanded Jehu to judge the house of Ahab for his wickedness (2 Kings 10).  He did this, but he was much to severe and now God will judge the house of Jehu and cease the kingdom of Israel.  From the death of Jehu and the taking of Israel by the Assyrians is about forty years.  So, the last part of verse four has a forty-year gap in it.

            Luke 2:40: “And the child grew….”  This describes Jesus growing up from a baby to about twelve years old.  So we have about a twelve year time jump.

             Luke 2:52: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature….”  This time jump takes Jesus from about twelve years old to thirty years old, about eighteen years.

             Acts 1:8: “…ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. “Here God commands His disciples to preach to the whole world.  They finally do, but this transitional period lasted about ten years before the first Gentiles were saved in Acts chapter ten.

             Acts 9:6: “…go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. “Jesus tells Paul to arise and go into the city.  We must realize that Paul was not outside the walls of Damascus, but he was still three-days from the city.  There is a three-day gap in time before the story picks up and Paul is healed.

             Acts 9:23: “And after that many days were fulfilled. “Three years passed between 9:22-23.  This event is recorded in Galatians 1:15-18 and also in Second Corinthians 11:32-33.  While Luke did not record it, he did leave room for it.

             Acts 9:43: “…he tarried many days in Joppa…. “Peter did not return to Lydda, but stayed in Joppa possibly as long as one year.

             Acts 11:26: “…a whole year….” We should understand that this one verse spans one year of time.

            Acts 13-14:  This first missionary journey reads very fast but we should keep in mind it lasted about two years!

            Acts 14:28: “And there they abode long time with the disciples.”  Between missionary journeys they stayed the city of Antioch in Syria and ministered for quite some time, maybe several years.  During this delay the conference in Jerusalem in chapter fifteen takes place.

            Acts 15:36-18:22: This second missionary journey of Paul, which was much more extensive than the first one, spanned a period of three to four years.

            Acts 18:11: “…a year and six months…. “This verse is important, it tells us that Paul was in this city for a year and a half.  This was a long time just in this one city.  If we read the book of Acts to quickly it will seem as if Paul is just moving along, but he did not constantly move, but did make long stops to teach.

             Acts 18:23: “And after he had spent some time there….”  There is a gap in time when Paul rests and ministers in Antioch in Syria.  Most scholars seem to agree Paul stayed about three years in Antioch during this time.

            Acts 18:23-21:16:   This third missionary journey was Paul’s longest trip and probably lasted about four to five years.

            Acts 19:8-10: “…three months….”  Paul spent three whole months in just one synagogue preaching Christ before he was forced to leave.  “…space of two years… “In verse ten we see that Paul did not leave the city but instead preached in the school of Tyrannus daily for two more years.  Church history says that the Ephesians worked in the morning and did their resting from eleven in the morning to four in the afternoon.  Paul probably preached during this time.

             1 Peter 1:10-11: “…searching what, or what manner of time… “The prophets of old did not understand that the Messiah would humble Himself on the cross to provide God’s grace we enjoy today.  They did not understand there would be a gap of more than two-thousand years until fulfillment.

William J. Roop, M.A.B.S.

www.hospiceministryvolunteer.blogspot.com

www.atseminary.com

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Three-Fold Principle

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Three-Fold Principle

             This is one way that God sets forth truth and highlights certain points of His Truth in a Three-Fold manner.  A misunderstanding of this principle has led to the false doctrine of a trinity of God’s nature.  This principle is actually, instead, an example of the fullness of God’s Word.

            Salvation:  We are saved from sin in a three-fold manner. This was all accomplished at Calvary by Jesus Christ.

            1.  The penalty of sin.  Are past has been justified by the Blood of Christ. The penalty of sin no longer applies to the Christian because Jesus Christ has laid all of our sin upon Himself, “He was wounded for our transgressions.”  God knows that we can never get right with God on our own; the Law of Moses has proven his for all to see.  So He provided the Cross!  We are saved from the wrath of God (John 3:36; Romans 1:8; 3:23).

             2. The power of sin.  We have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the present dispensation (Acts 2).  God knows that we are too weak to walk with Him. The Holy Spirit can keep us free from the bondage of sin that we were once confined (Romans 7:15).

            3.  The presence of sin.  In the future we will be transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ.  God knows that our sin-nature body is not acceptable to Him.  Are immortal bodies in Glory will not be in the presence of sin that we currently live (Romans 6:23).

            The Three-Fold Work of Jesus Christ:  God shows man the work of Jesus Christ consistently in a three-fold way.

        1.  Titus 2:11-13: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation…Teaching us…Looking for…”.  In Titus 2:11-13 we have a snap shot of the three-fold work of Jesus Christ. We can see the Cross which is in the past. Jesus is still today teaching us to walk righteously.  We also have the hope of His return.

              2 Corinthians 1:10:  Who delivered us…doth deliver…he will yet deliver….”  In 2 Corinthians. 1:10 we have the same message but compacted into only one verse.  “Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver. “

            3.  1 Thessalonians 1:3:  Remembering…hope in our Lord…in the sight of God…. “In 1 Thessalonians 1:3 it is also compacted in only one verse. “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.”

             Jesus’ Resurrection:  In order to prepare us for the coming Resurrection, Jesus raises three different people from the dead during His ministry.  This is to show His followers that resurrection from the dead is indeed possible.

             1.  Widows son- Luke 7:11-17.

            2.  Ruler’s daughter- Matthew 9:18-25.

            3.  Lazarus- John 11.

            The Great Supper- Luke 14:16-24:  In a Three-Fold manner this refers to the successive ministries connected with the invitations to “the great supper.”

            1. “A certain man” sends “his servant” to those who had been previously “bidden.”  This was Peter’s first ministry (Acts 2-7).

            2.  The “master of the house” sends him again to “the streets and lanes of the city.”  This is Peter’s second ministry (Acts 10-12).

            3.  Then “the lord” send out another servant to “the highways and hedges,” This is Paul’s ministry to the great Gentile world (Acts 13-28).

       Scripture Highlighting:  It has always been a custom among man, even in American society, that if we want to emphasize something, we simply repeat it.  And most commonly we repeat it three times.  This is how the ancients emphasized anything they wanted to bring to attention.  Today’s English language we have punctuation to make our words stand out.  Ancient Hebrew and Greek did not have punctuation, so the repeated a word, words, or a sentence to stress its importance.  This literary technique should not be used in numerology or proving the existence of a trinity in the Godhead.  It was never intended for that.  Here are some examples of the use of this technique.

             1.  Isaiah 6:3. “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts:  the whole earth is full of his glory.”

             2.  Revelation 1:8. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”

            3.  Revelation 4:8. “And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within:  and they rest not day and night, saying Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”

            4.  Revelation 22:11. “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still:  and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still:  and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still:  and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”

            5. Revelation 22:13. “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”

            God has had three relationships to man:  God has dealt with mankind in three different ways.  The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  This is not to be confused with a trinity, which was an invention that occurred over the centuries.  God has dealt with man in three separate relationships in order to do His will.  There is only one God, but He has related to us in three different forms.

        1.  Father.  Jesus is Yahweh.  Many Old Testament statements by or about Yahweh (Jehovah)are specifically fulfilled in Jesus (Isaiah 40:3,5; 45:23; 52:6; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Zechariah 11:12; 12:10; John 8:58; Philippians 2:9-11).[1]

            2.  Son.  Jesus Christ is the one God incarnate.  “In him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily “(Colossians 2:9).  “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19).  Jesus accepted Thomas’s confession of Him as “my Lord and my God” (John 20:28-29).  And many other Scriptural passages reveal the identity of Jesus as God.  (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 35:4-6 with Matthew 11:1-6; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:23; Acts 20:28; Romans 9:5; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 3:16; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:2; 2 Peter 1:1; 1 John 5:20).[2]

             3.  Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is literally the Spirit that was in Jesus Christ.  “The Lord is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:17, NKJV). (See also John 14:17-18; 16:7.)  The New Testament ascribes the following works both to Jesus and to the Holy Spirit:  moving the prophet of old, resurrection of Christ’s body, work as the Paraclete, giving of words to believers in time of persecution, intercession, sanctification, and indwelling of believers.[3]

            Three heavenly places:  God has created three separate places.  Heaven, Hell and the Earth.  All three will change according to the age, but there will always be three.

            1.  Heaven.  All parts of the Spirit realm occupied by the Angelic and the redeemed.

            2.  Hell.  All parts of the Spirit realm occupied by Satan and demons and wicked men.

            3.  Earth.  The physical world in which we live in today that we can touch, feel and see.

            The Three-Fold “opening” that Jesus Christ gave to two disciples on the road to Emmaus: 

1.        They experienced open eyes. “And their eyes were opened, and they knew him...”  (Luke 24:31).

2.       They heard the open Scriptures.  “...and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24: 32).

3.       They had opened their understanding. “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,” (Luke 24:45).

Jesus warns Peter of his three denial's:  Jesus Christ at the Last Supper warns Peter that he will deny him three times before the rooster crows.  “And he said, I tell thee Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.  (Luke 22:34).  This was fulfilled in verse fifty! 

Peter's rejection of unclean animals:  The Apostle Peter had received a vision of unclean animals on a large sheet that descended from heaven.  Peter heard a voice that said to kill and eat.  Peter rejected this commandment three times.

            “But Peter said, not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”  (Acts 10: 14).

            “And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.”  (Acts 10:15).

            “This was done thrice:  and the vessel was received up again into heaven.”  (Acts 10: 16).

             Three ethnic divisions: The Bible is a book about three different groups of people that make up the world.  The Jews, Gentiles, and the Church.  We must always know to whom God is addressing while studying Scripture.

1.  Jew.  Jewish people descendants of Abraham.

2.  Gentile.  All non-Jews who are not part of the Church.

3.  Church.  Jew and Gentile believers in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, forming one unified body.

             The Revelation given to John:  In order to understand the end of times and the book of Revelation we need to understand and keep in mind the Three-fold Principle.  Here are some examples.

             David’s Son:  Jesus Christ, David’s Son, was to have a three-fold role.

            1.  Priest.  He was not to be a priest like the Levites, but instead after the order of Melchizedek.  David was not a priest, nor could he ever be one since he was of the tribe of Judah.  Jesus Christ would be a priest, but a different kind of one, an eternal priest.

            2.  King.  Jesus Christ is King of King and Lord of Lords.

            3.  God.  Jesus Christ was and is God wrapped in flesh who has redeemed all of mankind.

            The Three Applications of the Seven Letters:  Jesus Christ told the Apostle John to write letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3.  These letters have a threefold application.

            1.  They apply to the actual churches they were addressed to.

            2.  They apply to churches in general.

            3.  They have a prophetic history of the entire Church age.  The Church age will last two-thousand years, from the time of Christ’s crucifixion to the rapture of the Church.

            The Three Roles of Jesus in Revelation:  In the book of Revelation, Jesus Christ will play three different roles.

            1.  King.  John seen Jesus Christ in heaven sitting on the throne as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  We read this in Revelation 4:2. Here God is showing us that He is ruler of the universe and is in control of all that is happening.

            2.  Lamb.  In Revelation 5 we see Him as the Lamb slain for the sins of mankind.  His purposes the Lamb was to open the seals revealing God’s judgment on the world.  As King sitting on the throne, or as the Lion of Judah, He cannot do this, but as the Lamb of God, slain and sacrificed as our “Passover” (1 Corinthians 5:7), He both can and does.

             3.  Lion.  As the Lion of Judah Jesus plays the role of judge.  A defender of His Jewish and Christian children.  A destroyer of the wicked, and the eternal judge of Satan and all of mankind.

            The Kingdom of the Son:  The coming Kingdom of Jesus Christ will be set up in a three-fold way.

            1.  Decent.  The Kingdom will begin by the descent of the Lord from heaven to the mount of Olives, splitting it in half.

            2.  Judgment.  Jesus Christ will come the second time as judge, and He shall judge the whole world.

            3.  Rule.  Jesus Christ will rule the entire world from New Jerusalem.

            The Kingdom:  The Kingdom of God here on earth will have a three-fold aspect.

            1.  The second coming of Jesus Christ will mark the beginning of His Kingdom on this earth. Psalms 96:9-10; 98:9.

            2.  He will rule over the nation of Israel, the Jews, God’s chosen people.  Psalm 78:8-11.

            3.  Jesus Christ will have rule over the entire world.  Psalm 78:8-11.

            Distress:  In the days of Jesus, it was customary for Jews to pray the same prayer three times.  A good example of this is found in Matthew 26:36-44 where Jesus was in distress and prayed three times, “O my Father, if this cup….”

            God’s Calling:  God revealed to Jeremiah that God called him in a three-fold manner in Jeremiah 1:5. “…I knew thee…I sanctified thee…I ordained thee….”

             God revealed through the apostle Paul that God calls us in a three-fold manner in Galatians 1:15-16.  “…who separated me…and called me…that I might preach Him….”

             Christian Life:  Paul seems to say in Philippians 3:10-11 that there is a three-fold aspect to the Christian life.  “That I may know Him…fellowship of His sufferings…attain unto the resurrection….”  First, the learning of Christ and His Word soon after salvation.  Second, enduring persecution that always follows a public conversion.  Third, a hope of resurrection to heaven after death.

[1] David K. Bernard.  The Oneness view of Jesus Christ.  Word Aflame Press, Hazelwood, MO.  P. 13.

[2] Ibid. p. 12.

[3] Ibid. ps. 13-14.

William J. Roop, M.A.B.S.

www.hospiceministryvolunteer.blogspot.com

www.atseminary.com

website

Second For The First Principle

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Second for the First Principle

            In this principle God sets aside the first and establishes the second.  It is sometimes called the Election Principle.  This is a continuing example that all sacrifice to God is set aside for the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross.  This is strictly by revelation of God Himself for the continuing of God’s Purpose (Romans 9:10-12).  There are many examples of this principle throughout Scripture.  First among man does not mean first among God.

            Cain was set aside for Abel:  God set aside the offering of Cain for the offering of the second, which was Abel’s.  When Cain murdered his brother Abel, God set aside Cain‘s family, who was first, and established Abel‘s family, who was second.

            Ham was set aside for Japheth and Shem:  Ham disqualified himself by his sinful behavior on his father Noah, and was set aside for his two brothers.

            The World was set aside for Noah’s family:  The world had grown wicked so they were set aside for Noah’s family to begin again with mankind.

             Ishmael was set aside for Isaac:  Ishmael was rebellious and married Canaanite women, whereas Isaac returned to his homeland to marry a woman chosen by God.

             Esau was set aside for Jacob:  A blind Isaac crossed his hands (Cross) and set aside Esau and blessed Jacob.  The first was set aside for the second.  Esau was a man of idolatry and corruption, God could not allow that to prosper.  (Genesis 48:8-19).

             Reuben was set aside for Judah: “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the legislator's pen from his descendants; to him nations shall submit, until the coming of Shiloh.”  When to other brothers plotted to kill Joseph, Judah convinced them to save his life.

            Calvary:  God set aside all former sacrifices for the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross.  Mankind’s relationship to God before Calvary was set aside for a new relationship that is better and more intimate.

            Salvation:  God has set aside the Law of Moses for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.  “Except a man be born again,” The first birth is set aside for the second.  The old man is to be set aside for the new man.  Our old condition is to be set aside for a new condition.  Mt. Sinai is set aside for Calvary.

Heaven and Earth:  Today’s world is filled with sin, but God will set it aside and create a new heaven and earth. (2 Peter 3:13).

 Jerusalem:  The Jerusalem of today will be set aside for a future new Jerusalem.  The old city that is filled with sin and strife will be replaced with a holy city where peace in God will reign.

The Old Testament is set aside for the New Testament:  The Old Testament tells us where man has come from and is filled with types and prophecy of the New Testament.  But our spiritual life is established by the New Testament today.

William J. Roop, M.A.B.S.

www.hospiceministryvolunteer.blogspot.com

www.atseminary.com

Repetition Principle

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Repetition Principle

            This is where God continually repeats certain words or phrases in order to gain our attention or to emphasis something.  At these times the Bible student should listen carefully.

        “Cursed”:  There are twelve curses found in Deuteronomy 27:15-26, and again seven times in Deuteronomy 28:15-19.  The first are the curses on disobedience and the later are the curses of disobedience.

            1.  Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image...

            2.  Cursed be he that sitteth light by his father or mother...

            3.  Cursed be he that removeth his neighbor's landmark...

            4.  Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way...

            5.  Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow...

            6.  Cursed be he that lieth with his father's wife...

            7.  Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of beasts...

            8.  Cursed be he that lieth with his sister...

            9.  Cursed be he that lieth with his mother-in-law...

            10.  Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbor secretly...

            11.  Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person...

            12.  Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them...

           

  There are six blessings in Deuteronomy 28:2-6.  These blessings are immediately after the above curses.

1.      “Blessed shalt thou be in the city...”

2.      “...and blessed shalt thou be in the field.”

3.      “Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body...”

4.      “Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.”

5.      “Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in...”

6.      “...and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.” 

            “The Lord shall:” The statement of “The Lord shall” is repeated six times in Deuteronomy 28:7-13 and again nine times in Deuteronomy 28:20-36.  The first series are the blessings of obedience.  The second are the consequences of disobedience.

1.      “The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten...”

2.      “The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses...”

3.      “The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself...”

4.      “And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods...”

5.      “The Lord shall open unto thee is good treasure...”

6.      “And the Lord shall make thee the head and not the tail...” 

            “Cursed:” Again, in 28:16-19, we have a series six of “cursed” statements.  This is the second round after twelve that we had in 27:16-26.  These are the curses of disobedience.

1.      “Cursed shalt thou be in the city...”

2.      “...and cursed shalt thou be in the field.”

3.      “Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.”

4.      “Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body...”

5.      “Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in...

6.      “...and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out.”

            “The Lord shall:” In Deuteronomy 28: 20-68 we have a series of twelve “The Lord shall.”

1.      “The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke...”

2.      “The Lord shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee...”

3.      “The Lord shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew...”

4.      “The Lord shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust...”

5.      “The Lord shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies...”

6.      “The Lord will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst be healed.”

7.      “The Lord shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart.”

8.      “The Lord shall smite thee in the knees and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.”

9.      “The Lord shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known...”

10.  “The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far...”

11.  “The Lord shall scatter thee among all people...”

12.  “The Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again...”

            “Thou shalt:” The phrase “thou shall” is repeated thirteen times in Deuteronomy 28:30-41.

1.      Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her...”

2.      “...thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein...”

3.      thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof.”

4.      “...thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed always.”

5.      “...thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.”

6.      “...thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword...”

7.      “Thou shalt carry much seed into the field, and shalt gather but little in...”

8.      “Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine...”

9.      “Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them...”

10.  “...and thou shalt come down very low.”

11.  “He shall lead lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him...”

12.  “...he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail.”

13.  “...thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body...”

            “Blessed:” There are twenty-two beatitudes in the book of Psalms.

            1. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  (Psalm 1:1).”

            2. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered (Psalm 32:1).”

            3. “Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit, there is no guile (Psalm 32:2).”

       4. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance (Psalm 33:12).”

            5. “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him (Psalm 34:8).”

            6. “Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respected not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies (Psalm 40: 4).”

            7. “Blessed is he that considereth the poor:  the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble (Psalm 41:1).”

            8. “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting.  Amen and amen (Psalm 41:13).”

          9. “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation (Psalm 68:19).”

            10. “Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things (Psalm 72:18).”

            11. “And blessed be his glorious name for ever:  and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen and Amen (Psalm 72:19).”

       12. “Blessed are they that dwell in thy house:  they will be still praising thee (Psalm 84:4).”

            13. “Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them (Psalm 84:5).”

            14. “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound:  they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance (Psalm 89:15).”

            15. “Blessed is the man whom thou chasteneth, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law; (Psalm 94:12).”

            16. “Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times (Psalm 106:3).”

            17.  Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting… (Psalm 106:48).

       18. “Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore (Psalm 113:2).”

            19. “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD (Psalm 119:1).”

            20. “Blessed are they that keep is testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart (Psalm 119:2).”

            21. “Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways (Psalm 128:1).”

            22. “Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight (Psalm 144:1).”          “Vanity:” This word is used thirty-six times in the book of Ecclesiastes.

            “Vanity and vexation of spirit:” This phrase is used seven times in the book of Ecclesiastes.

             The Six Woe’s:  The six woes found in Isaiah 5:8-32 speak on the judgment on Israel for its wickedness.

             1.  Selfish greed- v. 8-10: “Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there is no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!”

            2.  Drunken conduct- v. 11-17: “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them….”

3.  Mockery at God’s power to judge their sin- v. 18-19: “Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope….”

4.  Distortion of God’s moral standards- v. 20: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

            5. Arrogance and pride- v. 21: “Woe unto them that are wise in their own eye’s and prudent in their own sight!”

6.  Perversion of justice- v. 22-23: “Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

             “Verily, verily:” This phrase is used seven times by John in his Gospel; 5:24, 25; 6:26,32, 47, 53; 8:34.

             “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches:” This phrase is repeated six times in Revelation 2 and 3.  Four times in the second chapter; 2:7, 11,17,29 and twice in chapter three; 3:6, 13.

            “Fulfilled:” This word is used frequently in the book of Matthew.

            “Kingdom:” This word is used fifty times in the book of Matthew.

            “Kingdom of Heaven:” This phrase is used thirty times in the book of Matthew.

            “Salvation:” This word is used twenty-eight times in the book of Isaiah.

            “Return:” This is used forty-seven times in the book of Jeremiah.

             “They shall know that I am God:” This phrase is used seventy times in the book of Ezekiel.

            “Son of man:” This phrase is used ninety times in the book of Ezekiel.

            “The word of the LORD came to me:” This phrase is used forty-nine times in the book f Ezekiel.

            “Glory of Israel” or “The glory of the LORD:” This phrase is used eleven times in the first eleven chapters of the book of Ezekiel.

            “I shall be sanctified through you:” This phrase is used six times in the book of Ezekiel.

William J. Roop, M.A.B.S.

www.hospiceministryvolunteer.blogspot.com

www.atseminary.com

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Prophecy Principle

  Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Prophecy Principle

             Much of the Bible is prophecy, about a third of it is prophetic.  Basically, prophecy is history written in advance by God, through men.  It is important to know where this prophecy is located and how to interpret them.  Prophets serve a duel role.  They speak the Word of God to people or organizations.  They also speak the Word of God about the future to warn men about their sin and coming judgments.  In Biblical Hermeneutics it is the later that we need to be concerned about.

            Prophecy can be broken down into many different ways.  Here is how I see it in Scripture and how it should be studied.  The three major categories are the prophies of his Current Time, Jesus Christ, and the End Times.  These three categories can have many subcategories, but I will not get into those in this writing.

            Biblical prophecy is also conditional and unconditional.  Conditional prophecies are fulfilled only if Israel fulfills certain conditions laid out in the prophecy.  Unconditional prophecies will be fulfilled by God without conditions.

            With a third of the Bible as prophecy entire books can and has been written about it.  The subject is much too large to properly deal with here, so I will just give the major categories as I see it.

            Prophecy about the Current Times.  This is not our current time, but the current times of the prophet declaring his prophecy.

            Prophecy about Jesus Christ.  There are many prophetic utterances in the Old Testament about the first and second visitation of Jesus Christ.  The New Testament has many utterances of the second visitation of Jesus Christ.

            Prophecy about the End Times.  Information about the End Times is becoming more and more important.

William J. Roop, M.A.B.S.

www.hospiceministryvolunteer.blogspot.com

www.atseminary.com

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Progressive Mention Principle

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Progressive -Mention Principle

             This is where the revelation of any given truth is increasingly clear as the Word of God proceeds to the end.  The Word of God is a progression, and every progressive mention adds more details to a particular truth.  The progressive mentions of different truths can be lengthy so I will just give one example.

            The Coming Messiah:  Little by little from the very beginning we see clues given by God of a coming Messiah.

              Genesis 3:15: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

When Adam and Eve brought sin into the world, God immediately gave a promise that the Seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent.  At first a very small and vague clue. 

            Genesis 22: 18: “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”

When Isaac is born to an aging Abraham, God gives another clue.  The promised Seed will be in Isaac's family linage.  At first it was a promise to Eve, the mother of all humanity.  Not it is narrowed down to a descendant of Isaac.

Psalm 22: “My God, my God, why hast thy forsaken me...they pierced my hands and my feet…They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture…”

Another clue was given to the king and prophet David in the psalm of the cross! This whole psalm is about the cross!  He will be forsaken, he will be crucified and they shall gamble for his garments!

Psalm 34:20: “He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.”

Another clue again was given to the king and prophet David that his bones would not be broken!

Isaiah 53:4-5: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

Another clue was given to the prophet Isaiah about the killing of the Messiah and why he died!

            Daniel 9:25: “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince…”

            Another clue was given to the prophet Daniel.  The Israelites would come out of Babylon and return to Jerusalem to build it up for the coming Messiah.

            Zechariah 9:9: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto the: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”

            Another clue was given to the prophet Zechariah about the Triumphant Entry of the Messiah into Jerusalem.

            Zechariah 11:12: “And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me thy price; and if not, forebear, So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.”

            Another clue was given again to the prophet Zechariah about the price on the Messiah’s head!  Thirty pieces of silver!

            Malachi 3:1: “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare thy way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.”

            Another clue was given to the prophet Malachi that a messenger would come just before the appearance of the Messiah.

William J. Roop, M.A.B.S.

www.hospiceministryvolunteer.blogspot.com

www.atseminary.com

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Patriarch Principle

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Patriarch Principle

             The head of a family or a community will act as the leader or Patriarch to accomplish a personal or community task   Having an understanding of a person’s status is important to the story and its interpretation.

            The Lord entrusted the garden of Eden to Adam, because God recognized him as the Patriarch of the Garden and his future family.  Likewise, Adam was held responsible for the sin of eating the forbidden fruit.

            God commanded Noah to build the ark, because God recognized Noah as the Patriarch of his family.

            God spoke to Abraham and gave him the promised land, because God recognized him as the family patriarch, the leader of his family.

            As far as biblical principles are compared this is a small one.  But it is something to keep in mind.  Family structure was very important back in those days.  Today it is not as important, but we need to keep it in mind that it was everything back in those days.

William J. Roop, M.A.B.S.

www.hospiceministryvolunteer.blogspot.com

www.atseminary.com

Roop-Crappell Ministries

            

Parable Principle

Hello everyone.  Praise the Lord!

Parable Principle

             In the New Testament instances of the word, it is used of a story with a hidden meaning, without pressing, in every detail, the idea of a comparison.[1]

             I know of twenty-three parables in the Old Testament and forty-three in the New Testament.  Because this book is not about parables, but only just this one chapter, I will only discuss two here.  One parable in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament.

             This likeness is generally only in some special point.  One person may be like another in appearance, but not in character, and vice versa; so that when the resemblance or likeness is affirmed it is not to be concluded that the likeness may be pressed in all points, or extended to all particulars.[2]

             For example, a lion is used as a resemblance of Christ, on account of his strength and prowess.  The Devil is likened to “a lion” because of his violence and cruelty.  Christ is compared to a thief, on account of his coming, being unexpected; not on account of dishonesty.[3]

            The resemblance is to be sought for in the scope of the context, and in the one great truth which is presented, and the one important lesson which is taught:  and not in all the minute details with which these happen to be associated.[4]

       The interpretation of the parable be must further distinguished from any application which may be made of it.  For example:  in the Parable of the “Ten Virgins” (Matthew 25:1-12), the interpretation belongs to some special point of time immediately preceding the return of the Lord to the earth.  This is indicated by the word “Then,” with which it commences, and by its place in relation to the context.  Any lesson for ourselves, as to watchfulness on our part, must come as an application of it to present circumstances.[5]

            Bad Vineyard.  Isaiah 5:1-7:  In this parable God, through the prophet Isaiah, is telling the people of Israel that He had carefully planted them in good soil and cared for them.  But they have been a bad vine and did not produce any good fruit and God is planning on pulling them up. God gave this prophetic parable just before the Babylonian captivity.

            The proceeding chapter, chapter four, is about restoring Jerusalem.  After this great hope then God explains His future judgment of Israel.  The first half of the fifth chapter is the parable in discussion.  The second half of the fifth chapter is about the evil that men do.  In chapter seven we have the calling in prophecy of the Messiah.  So, God gives the Jews great hope before and after this parable of judgment.

       “Now will I sing to my well beloved   a song of my beloved touching his vineyard.  My well beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:”

             And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a wine press therein:  and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.

             And now, o inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.

       What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?  Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?

 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard:  I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and brake down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:

             And I will lay it waste:  it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns:  I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

       For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant:  and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

             The Two Sons- Matthew 21:28-32:  This parable is spoken by Jesus inside the Temple in Jerusalem to the chief priests and the elders.  Jesus reserved His harshest words for the self-righteous religious people who thought they had no need for mercy!

            But what think ye?  A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, son, go work today in my vineyard.

            He answered and said, I will not:  but afterward he repented, and went.

            And he came to the second, and said likewise.  And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.

            Whether of them twain did the will of his father?  They say unto him, the first.  Jesus saith unto them, verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

            For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not:  but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

1.      [1] E. W. Bullinger.  Figures of Speech used in the Bible.  Baker Book House.  Grand Rapids, MI.  1968, p. 751.

2.      [2] ibed.

3.      [3] ibed, 751-2.

4.      [4]ibed.

5.      [5] ibed.

William J. Roop, M.A.B.S.

www.hospiceministryvolunteer.blogspot.com

www.atseminary.com

Roop-Crappell Ministries